Vietnam War ordnance menaces Southeast Asia amid US mine-clearing ban
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Vast areas of Southeast Asia remain littered with unexploded ordnance from bombs dropped by US forces during the Vietnam War.
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Members of a demining team look for unexploded ordnance in Quang Tri Province Vietnam, in 2020. (AFP via Getty Images)
In a new report, The New York Times highlighted that the US State Department's abrupt decision to suspend global mine-clearing efforts has left demining organizations in limbo, halting critical work in regions plagued by unexploded ordnance.
This move, effective immediately, comes as a severe blow to ongoing humanitarian efforts aimed at clearing remnants of the Vietnam War.
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Despite the war ending five decades ago, unexploded bombs—dropped by US forces—continue to claim lives and cause devastation across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Over the past 30 years, the US has invested more than $750 million in clearing these deadly remnants, but experts caution it could take another century to fully address the threat. The suspension of this funding raises serious concerns about the long-term humanitarian impact on communities already deeply scarred by war.
On Saturday, the US State Department announced the suspension, following a broader foreign aid cut under the Trump administration. This decision has raised alarms, as experts predict "a good chance people are going to die" as a result of the funding cuts, with people unknowingly walking into minefields that could not have been cleared.
Bill Morse, co-founder of Cambodian Self-Help Demining, emphasized the potential for fatal consequences. In Vietnam, Tran Phu Cuong, a government official, expressed the nation's frustration, calling the war’s lingering effects, including unexploded bombs and the enduring impact of Agent Orange, "unjust".
Ho Van Lai, a 34-year-old survivor of a landmine explosion in Vietnam, poignantly reflected on the ongoing threat, guiding local students at the Mine Action Visitor Center in 2024.
Ho Van Lai, who lost family and limbs due to a cluster bomb as a child, voiced sadness over the suspension of US aid for demining.
America’s wars, their wounds: Unfinished legacy of destruction
In Cambodia, Sok Eysan, spokesperson for the ruling party, pointed out that the US is ultimately responsible for the war and its aftermath and noted the historical role the country played in the conflict.
The suspension of funding comes just as China has increased its involvement in demining efforts in Southeast Asia. Bill Morse warned that this decision could drive Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to seek greater assistance from China. Since the US war ended, Vietnam has lost 40,000 people to unexploded ordnance, and 60,000 more have been injured. Cambodia has seen over 65,000 fatalities, and Laos, the most heavily bombed country per capita, has lost more than 22,000 people.
Sera Koulabdara, the head of Legacies of War, a US-based advocacy group, expressed concern about the suspension, stressing the negative message it sends to countries dependent on US assistance. She plans to lobby Washington to reconsider this decision, urging Congress to hold the administration accountable for its actions.
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